Str_581_Week_3_Strategic_Plan_Update

Running head: STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE – DRAFT I Individual Assignment: Strategic Plan Update—Draft I Michael Brown STR/581 June 6, 2010 Alfonso Rodriguez Individual Assignment: Strategic Plan Update—Draft I Mission Statement Organizational mission statements are critical due to them expressing the organization’s true identity and philosophy in tandem with establishing a brand image which the prospective clients and current clients will perceive as trustworthy. Kudler Fine Foods must formulate a new mission statement to emphasize and reflect organizational morals and values The purpose of a mission statement is essentially to explain the underlying rationale for a company’s existence, and at the same time, inquire as to what a company’s function is in relation to how the company places itself within society (Pearce & Robinson, 2009). Kudler Fine Foods current mission statement reads: “Kudler Fine Foods is committed to providing our customers with the finest selection of the very best foods and wines so that your culinary visions can come true” (Kudler Fine Foods Web Site, 2010). This mission statement was solid when Kudler Fine Foods was a new start-up organization with one small location. Now however, it is severely lacking in providing a clear organizational mission for management and employees to follow. Kudler Fine Foods needs to address its mission statement in a more refined, conscious effort involving the organization, employees, customers, and community it operates in. A possible new mission statement could read: “Kudler Fine Foods is a dynamic leader in the quality food business. We aim to set the standard for excellence in the food retail industry through our mission driven focus. Our motto- People, Product, Community- relates to everyone, our vision reaches beyond the food retail market. Customer satisfaction, team member happiness and satisfaction return on investment, environmental awareness, and community support local and national are the tools for measuring our organizational vision success. Kudler Fine Foods determination will help to instill a sense of interdependence amongst the stakeholders, (parties of interest who benefit directly from our success) by communicating more openly, more often, and more compassionately between all involved”. A revised mission statement from Kudler Fine Foods could be used as a template or guideline by all employees in the organization as well as business partners by addressing all facets of the organization’s daily operations such as: products bought and sold customer satisfaction, support for team member excellence and happiness, community involvement, and environmental stewardship. Vision Statement A vision statement involves as organization’s long-term strategic thinking in conjunction with establishing organizational objectives and intentions. A majority of organizations approach their vision statements in terms of sustained growth in the areas of company input/output, organizational capacity, and overall size of the entity. A vision statement is one that explains the position in which a company wishes to be in within the company’s future (Pearce & Robinson, 2009). Kudler Fine Foods current vision statement reads: “Kudler Fine Foods will be the premiere gourmet grocery store for those savvy shoppers who are searching for the finest meats, produce, cheeses, and wine” (Kudler Fine Foods Web Site, 2010). This vision statement was appropriate when Kudler Fine Foods was a single store, which it has expanded into two currently and is considering a third location, thus a new, current vision statement for Kudler Fine Foods could be: “Kudler Fine Foods vision is to capitalize on our organizational capacity to be a profitable market leader by offering clients the quality, variety, and prices on its gourmet food and wine offerings to perpetuate growth, gain market share, and be regarded by clients and stakeholders in the highest regard when selecting their store of choice. Kudler Fine Foods should refocus its vision on purpose of mission, as opposed to being profit driven only. This re-focus will help Kudler Fine Foods to underscore the importance of all the company’s interdependent stakeholders, community, suppliers, and the environment. When all these interests are factored-into the vision profits will begin to flourish because all organizations will be working in each other’s best interests. We must remember that vision statement reflect the intentions and hopes of many individuals and it may not reflect the way things really are, in this case Kudler fine foods, but may express dissatisfaction with the current reality, contrasted with what is possible if the organizational strategy and objectives could be realized. Value Statement Value statements are a declaration of the organization’s founding principles and behavior in regard to these principles when operating in the business environment. “A value statement entails its values in terms of its social, cultural, and ethical responsibilities to its internal and external clients” (Pearce & Robinson, 2009). Kudler Fine Foods present vision statement reads: “Kudler Fine Foods uses only the finest organic ingredients. Whenever possible, we purchase local produce from organic farmers. We use unbleached flour in our bakery goods and we don’t add unnecessary preservatives to our products. Food is rotated from the shelves on an ongoing basis. Those items that are still in “good” condition are donated to local homeless shelters and food kitchens” (Kudler Fine Foods Web Site, 2007). This value statement is straightforward and concise, but it needs to reflect changing social, cultural, and ethical conditions in the current growth and industry changes. A new updated value statement could state:” Kudler Fine Foods synergizes its efforts for the benefit of external clients and internal clients. Kudler Fine Foods depends upon hundreds of other business’s to assist in creating their outstanding gourmet shopping experience. These trade partners are considered stakeholders and should be treated with fairness, respect, and integrity. Kudler Fine Foods prides themselves in offering top shelf products and ingredients while ensuring quality, reliability, honesty, and commitment are not sacrificed. Kudler Fine Foods customer service, quality, and cleanliness at its present locations are second-to-none, while maintaining a high degree of health consciousness in its products to best accommodate merchants and the general public which its serves at its stores. Kudler Fine Foods partners with communities it operates its locations within to better serve and enrich all parts of the environment.” The values of an organization should not change situation to situation, person to person, or time to time, but rather remain entrenched in the company culture. Values transcend growth rate and company size. Maintaining core values will ensure Kudler Fine Foods retains its strengths and niche market in the retail grocery market. References Kudler Fine Foods Web Site (2007). Retrieved June 5, 2010 from the University of Phoenix Web Site.https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CIST/VOP/Business/Kudler/Admin/StrategicPlan2003.pdf Pearce, J. A., & Robinson, R. B. (2009). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (11th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.